Control signal generation circuit and battery management system using the same

ABSTRACT

A control signal generating circuit used in a battery management system may stably generate a control signal. The control signal generating circuit includes a first signal line transmitting a first control signal having an on-level or an off-level, a second signal line transmitting a second control signal having an on-level or an off-level, and a third signal line transmitting a third control signal having an on-level or an off-level. In addition, the control signal generating circuit includes a transistor including a first electrode coupled to the first signal line and a second electrode applied with the off-level. The transistor electrically connects the first and second electrodes and converts the first control signal into a fourth control signal by being turned on based on the second and third control signals. Finally, the control signal generating circuit includes a circuit unit generating a fifth control signal having the on-level when the second and third control signals are input and have the off-level.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 11/516,693,filed Sep. 7, 2006, and claims the benefit of Korean Patent ApplicationNo. 10-2005-0083671 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office onSep. 8, 2005, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

An aspect of the present invention relates to a battery managementsystem. More particularly, an aspect of the present invention relates toa battery management system of a vehicle utilizing electrical energy.

2. Description of the Related Art

Vehicles using gasoline or a heavy oil internal combustion engine causeserious air pollution. Accordingly, various efforts for developingelectric or hybrid vehicles have recently been made to reduce airpollution.

An electric vehicle uses a battery engine run by electrical energyoutput by a battery. Since the electric vehicle mainly uses a batteryformed by one battery pack including a plurality ofrechargeable/dischargeable secondary cells, the electric vehicle has nogas emissions and produces less noise.

A hybrid vehicle commonly refers to a gasoline-electric hybrid vehiclethat uses gasoline to power an internal combustion engine and anelectric battery to power an electric motor. Recently, hybrid vehiclesusing an internal combustion engine and fuel cells and hybrid vehiclesusing a battery and fuel cells have been developed. The fuel cellsdirectly obtain electrical energy by generating a chemical reactionwhile hydrogen and oxygen are continuously provided.

Since battery performance directly affects a vehicle using electricalenergy, it is required that each battery cell has great performance.Also, it is required to provide a battery management system measuring avoltage and a current of the overall battery to efficiently managecharging/discharging operations of each battery cell.

The above information is only for enhancement of the understanding ofthe background of the invention and therefore it may contain informationthat does not constitute the prior art already known in this country toa person of ordinary skill in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention has been made in an effort to providea battery management system having advantages of more efficientlymeasuring a battery cell voltage using a small number of elements.

An control signal generating circuit according to an embodiment of thepresent invention may include: a first signal line transmitting a firstcontrol signal having an on-level or an off-level; a second signal linetransmitting a second control signal having an on-level or an off-level;a third signal line transmitting a third control signal having anon-level or an off-level; a transistor including a first electrodecoupled to the first signal line and a second electrode applied with theoff-level, and the transistor converting the first control signal into afourth control signal by being turned on based on the second and thirdcontrol signals; and a circuit unit generating a fifth control signalhaving the on-level when the second and third control signals are inputand have the off-level.

Another control signal generating circuit according to anotherembodiment of the present invention may include: a first input terminalreceiving a first control signal having a first level or a second levelas an inverted level of the first level; a second input terminalreceiving a second control signal having the first level or the secondlevel; a third input terminal receiving a third control signal havingthe first level or the second level; a transistor including a firstelectrode coupled to the first input terminal, a second electrodeapplied with the second level, and a control electrode beingelectrically connected to the second and third input terminals; aninverter outputting fourth, fifth, and sixth control signals byrespectively converting the first, second, and third control signalsrespectively transmitted through the first electrode of the transistor,the second input terminal, and the third input terminal; and a circuitunit generating a seventh control signal having the second level whenthe fifth and sixth control signals are the first level.

A further control signal generating circuit according to anotherembodiment of the present invention may include: a control signalgenerating circuit; a first signal line transmitting a first controlsignal having a low level or a high-level; a second signal linetransmitting a second control signal having a low level or a high level;and a transistor including a first electrode coupled to the first signalline, a second electrode coupled to a ground electrode, and electricallyconnecting the first and second electrodes and changing the firstcontrol signal to be the low level by being turned on when the secondcontrol signal is the high level.

Yet another control signal generating circuit according to anotherembodiment of the present invention may include: a plurality of firstsignal lines respectively transmitting a plurality of first controlsignals; a plurality of first resistors having first and secondterminals, the first terminals being respectively coupled to a pluralityof the first signal lines; second and third signal lines respectivelytransmitting second and third control signals; and a plurality oftransistors being electrically connected to the second terminals of thefirst resistors and changing a potential of the second terminals of theplurality of first resistors to be the first level by being turned onbased on the second or third control signal.

An battery management system coupled to a battery formed with one packhaving a plurality of battery cells including first and second batterycells according to another embodiment of the present invention mayinclude: a control signal generator outputting a first control signaland second, third, and fourth control signals having a first level atdifferent timing from the first control signal; first and second relaysrespectively transmitting cell voltages of the first and second batterycells by being turned on in response to the first level of the first andsecond control signals; a third relay transmitting the cell voltagetransmitted through one of the first and second relays in response tothe third control signal with the first level; a charging unit storingthe cell voltage transmitted from the third relay; a fourth relaytransmitting the stored cell voltage of the charging unit in response tothe first level of the fourth control signal; and an A/D converterconverting the cell voltage transmitted through the fourth relay intodigital data, wherein the control signal generator makes the first andsecond control signals to be a second level excluding the first levelwhen the fourth control signal is the first level and makes the thirdcontrol signal to be the second level.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the controlsignal generator may include a common electrode having a potential ofthe second level; a first transistor including a first electrode appliedwith the first control signal, a second electrode coupled to the commonelectrode, and a first control electrode applied with the fourth controlsignal, and electrically connecting the first and second electrodes bybeing turned on when the fourth control signal is the first level; and asecond transistor including a third electrode applied with the secondcontrol signal, a fourth electrode coupled to the common electrode, anda second control electrode applied with the fourth control signal, andelectrically connecting the third and fourth electrodes by being turnedon when the fourth control signal is the first level. Another batterymanagement system coupled to a battery formed with one pack having aplurality of battery cells including first and second battery cellsaccording to the embodiment of the present invention may include: acontrol signal generator outputting a first control signal, second,third, and fourth control signals having a first level at differenttiming from the first control signal, and a fifth control signal shiftedfrom the fourth control signal by a predetermined time; first and secondrelays respectively transmitting cell voltages of the first and secondbattery cells by being turned on in response to the first level of thefirst and second control signals; a third relay transmitting the cellvoltage transmitted through one of the first and second relays inresponse to the third control signal with the first level; a chargingunit storing the cell voltage transmitted from the third relay; a fourthrelay transmitting the stored cell voltage of the charging unit inresponse to the first level of the fourth control signal; and an A/Dconverter converting the cell voltage transmitted through the fourthrelay into digital data, wherein the control signal generator makes thefirst and second control signals to be a second level inverted from thefirst level when the fourth or fifth control signal is the first level,and the third control signals to be the first level when the fourth andfifth control signals are the second level.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the controlsignal generator may include: a common electrode having a potential ofthe first level; a first transistor including a first electrode appliedwith the converted first control signal, a second electrode coupled tothe common electrode, and a first control electrode applied with thefourth control signal, and electrically connecting the first and secondelectrodes by being turned on when the converted fourth control signalor the converted fifth control signal is the second level; and a secondtransistor including a third electrode applied with the converted secondcontrol signal and a fourth electrode coupled to the common electrode,and electrically connecting the third and fourth electrodes by beingturned on when the converted fourth control signal or the convertedfifth control signal is the first level; and an inverter outputtingfirst, second, fourth, and fifth control signals by respectivelyconverting the converted first, second, fourth, and fifth controlsignals respectively transmitted through the first electrode of thefirst transistor and the third electrode of the second transistor.

Yet another battery management system according to another embodiment ofthe present invention may include: a first input terminal receiving afirst control signal; a second input terminal receiving a second controlsignal; a transistor including a first electrode coupled to the firstinput terminal, a second electrode applied with a voltage of a firstlevel, and a control electrode coupled to the second input terminal andturned on when the second control signal is a second level excluding thefirst level; a first switch turned on when a third control signaltransmitted through the first electrode of the transistor is the secondlevel; and a second switch turned on when the second control signal isthe second level.

Yet another battery management system according to another embodiment ofthe present invention may include: a first input terminal receiving afirst control signal; a second input terminal receiving a third controlsignal that is the second control signal shifted by a predeterminedtime; an input terminal receiving a second control signal; a transistorincluding a first electrode coupled to the first input terminal, asecond electrode applied with a voltage of a first level, and a controlelectrode coupled to the second input terminal and turned on when thesecond control signal is a second level excluding the first level; afirst switch turned on when a third control signal transmitted throughthe first electrode of the transistor is the second level; a circuitunit generating a fifth control signal having the second level when thesecond control signal and the third control signal are the first level;and a third switch turned on when the fifth control signal is the secondlevel.

Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forthin part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obviousfrom the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent and more readily appreciated from the following description ofthe embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a battery, a battery management system,and peripheral devices thereof.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a sensing unit according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates in detail a cell voltage measurer according to afirst embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a timing diagram of a waveform of a control signal input froma control signal generator to a cell voltage measurer according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates in detail a control signal generator according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a timing diagram of control signals changed by a transistor ofFIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a timing diagram showing an operation of a NOR gate of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a timing diagram of a waveform of control signals input from acontrol signal generator to a cell voltage measurer according to asecond embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates in detail a control signal generator according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a timing diagram showing an operation of a NAND gate of FIG.9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elementsthroughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain thepresent invention by referring to the figures.

In the following detailed description, only certain embodiments of thepresent invention have been shown and described, simply by way ofillustration.

As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments maybe modified in various different ways, all without departing from thespirit or scope of the present invention.

Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded asillustrative in nature and not restrictive.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, when it isdescribed that an element is coupled to another element, the element maybe directly coupled to the other element or electrically coupled to theother element through a third element. Throughout this specification andthe claims which follow, unless explicitly described to the contrary,the word “comprise/include” or variations such as “comprises/includes”or “comprising/including” will be understood to imply the inclusion ofstated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a battery, a battery management system(BMS), and peripheral devices thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, a BMS 1, a battery 2, a current sensor 3, a coolingfan 4, a fuse 5, and a main switch 6 are included. The current sensor 3measures an output current amount of the battery 2 and outputs the sameto the BMS 1. The cooling fan 4 cools heat generated by thecharging/discharging of the battery 2 in response to a control signal ofthe BMS 1, and prevents the charge/discharge efficiency of the battery 2from being deteriorated and reduced due to an increase of temperature.The fuse 5 prevents an overflow current due to a disconnection or ashort circuit of the battery 2 from being transmitted to a powergenerator (not shown). That is, when the overflow current occurs, thefuse 5 is disconnected to interrupt the transmission of the overflowcurrent. The main switch 6 turns on/off the battery 2 in response to thecontrol signal of the BMS 1 when an abnormal phenomenon, including anover voltage, an overflow current, and a high temperature, occur.

The battery 2 includes eight sub-packs 210 to 280 coupled in series toeach other, output terminals 291 and 292, and a safety switch 293provided between the sub-packs 240 and 250. The sub-pack 210 includesfive secondary battery cells coupled in series to each other. Likewise,the respective sub-packs 220 to 280 each include five secondary batterycells coupled in series to each other, and accordingly, the battery 2includes a total of 40 battery cells.

Here, for better comprehension and ease of description of the presentembodiment, the sub-packs are expressed as having a group of fivesecondary batteries. However, the battery may include 40 secondarybattery cells directly coupled to each other without the sub-packs 210to 280.

The output terminals 291 and 292 are coupled to the power generator (notshown) of the vehicle and supply electrical energy to an engine thereof.The safety switch 293 is a switch provided between the sub-packs 240 and250, and is manually turned on/off so as to protect a worker when theworker replaces or handles the battery. In this embodiment, the safetyswitch 293 may be provided between the sub-packs 240 and 250, but is notlimited thereto.

The BMS 1 includes a sensing unit 10, a main control unit (MCU) 20, aninternal power supply 30, a cell balance unit 40, a storage unit 50, acommunication unit 60, a protection circuit unit 70, a power-on resetunit 80, and an external interface 90.

The sensing unit 10 measures an overall battery pack current, an overallbattery pack voltage, each battery cell voltage, each battery celltemperature, and a peripheral temperature, converts the measured valuesinto digital data, and transmits the measured values to the MCU 20.

The MCU 20 generates five control signals BANK1_SENSE to BANK5_SENSE(not shown) and two control signals MODULE+_V and MODULE−_V (not shown)and outputs the generated signals to the sensing unit 10, determines astate of charging (SOC) and a state of health (SOH) of the battery 2based on the measured value transmitted from the sensing unit 10, andcontrols the charging/discharging of the battery 2.

The internal power supply 30 supplies power to the BMS 1 using a backupbattery.

The cell balance unit 40 checks a balance of the charging state of eachcell. That is, cells of a relatively high charged state may bedischarged and cells of a relatively low charged state may be charged.

The storage unit 50 stores data of the present SOC, SOH, or the likewhen the power source of the BMS 1 is turned off. Herein, the storageunit 50 may be an EEPROM as an electrically erasable and writablenon-volatile memory.

The communication unit 60 communicates with a controller (not shown) ofthe power generator of the vehicle.

The protection circuit 70 protects the battery 2 from an externalimpact, an over-flowed current, or a low voltage by using a firmware.

The power-on reset unit 80 resets the overall system when the powersource of the BMS 1 is turned on.

The external interface 90 couples the BMS auxiliary devices, includingthe cooling fan 4 and the main switch 6, to the MCU 20. In the presentembodiment, the cooling fan 4 and the main switch 6 are illustrated asthe auxiliary device of the BMS 1, but this is not restrictive.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a sensing unit according to anembodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sensing unit 10 includes a control signalgenerator 110, a cell voltage measurer 120, a pack voltage measurer 130,a pack current measurer 140, a temperature measurer 150, and an A/Dconverter 160.

The control signal generator 110 receives the control signalsBANK1_SENSE to BANK5_SENSE, and MODULE+_V, and MODULE−_V from the MCU 20and transmits the control signals BANK1_SENSE to BANK5_SENSE, MODULE+_V,and MODULE−_V, and MODULE_SW_1 to MODULE_SW_4 (see FIG. 3) to the cellvoltage measurer 120.

The cell voltage measurer 120 measures analog voltages of the 40 batterycells 211 to 285 of the battery 2 and outputs the measured analogvoltages to the A/D converter 160 based on the control signalsBANK1_SENSE to BANK5_SENSE, MODULE+_V, and MODULE−_V, and MODULE_SW_1 toMODULE_SW_4 transmitted from the control signal generator 110.

The pack voltage measurer 130 measures an analog voltage value betweenthe output terminals 291 and 292 of the battery 2 (see FIG. 1) andoutputs the measured analog voltage to the A/D converter 160.

The pack current measurer 140 receives the current value measured fromthe current sensor 3 (see FIG. 1), converts the received current valueinto an analog voltage signal, and outputs the converted value to theA/D converter 160.

The temperature measurer 150 measures temperatures of the battery 2 andthe surrounding environment thereof in digital values and outputs themeasured digital values to the MCU 20.

The A/D converter 160 converts the analog values received from the cellvoltage measurer 120, the pack voltage measurer 130, and the packcurrent measurer 140 into digital data and outputs the converted digitaldata to the MCU 20 (see FIG. 1). Specifically, the A/D converter 160includes 10 input terminals and sequentially converts each analog datainput from the input terminal into each digital data. Herein, eightinput terminals (referred to as first to eighth input terminals) amongthe 10 input terminals are coupled to the output terminal of the cellvoltage measurer 120, another input terminal (referred to as a ninthinput terminal) is coupled to the pack voltage measurer 130, and theremaining input terminal (referred to as a tenth input terminal) iscoupled to the pack current measurer 140.

FIG. 3 illustrates in detail a cell voltage measurer.

In FIG. 3, the sub-packs 230 to 270 provided between the sub-packs 220and 280 are not illustrated for simplification and clarification of thedrawing. Likewise, charging relays 121 c to 121 g, leakproof relays 122c to 122 g, charging units 123 c to 123 g, transmitting units 124 c to124 g, and buffers 125 c to 125 g are not illustrated for a briefdrawing.

As shown in FIG. 3, the control signal generator 110 receives the fivecontrol signals BANK1_SENSE to BANK5_SENSE and the two control signalsMODULE+_V and MODULE−_V, that is, a total of 7 control signals from theMCU 20 and outputs the control signals BANK1_SENSE to BANK5_SENSE, thecontrol signals MODULE+_V and MODULE−_V, and the control signalsMODULE_SW_1 to MODULE_SW_4 to the cell voltage measurer 120.

The cell voltage measurer 120 includes the charging relays 121 a to 121h respectively coupled to the respective sub-packs 210 to 280, theleakproof relays 122 a to 122 h, the charging units 123 a to 123 h, thetransmitting units 124 a to 124 h, and the buffers 125 a to 125 h.

The charging relay 121 a includes five cell relays 121 a_1 to 121 a_5,which are respectively on/off based on the five control signalsBANK1_SENSE to BANK5_SENSE output from the control signal generator 110.

Specifically, the cell relay 121 a_1 is coupled to a negative terminal121− and a positive terminal 121+ of the cell 211, and is turned onbased on the input control signal BANK1_SENSE and transmits a voltage ofthe cell 211.

The cell relay 121 a_2 is coupled to a negative terminal 122− and apositive terminal 122+ of the cell 212, and is turned on based on theinput control signal BANK2_SENSE and transmits a voltage of the cell212. Likewise, the cell relays 121 a_3 to 121 a_5 are turned on based onthe input control signals BANK3_SENSE to BANK5_SENSE and transmit avoltage of the cells 213 to 215.

The leakproof relay 122 a transmits a voltage output from the chargingrelay 121 a to the charging unit 123 a based on the control signalMODULE_SW transmitted from the control signal generator 110. In FIG. 3,since the four control signals MODULE_SW_1 to MODULE_SW_4 output fromthe control signal generator 110 are the same, the leakproof relays 122a to 122 h may be operated based on one of the four control signalsMODULE_SW_1 to MODULE_SW_4. However, according to the first embodiment,the leakproof relays 122 a and 122 e are operated based on the controlsignal MODULE_SW_1, the leakproof relays 122 b and 122 f are operatedbased on the control signal MODULE_SW_2, the leakproof relays 122 c and122 g are operated based on the control signal MODULE_SW_3, and theleakproof relays 122 d and 122 h are operated based on the controlsignal MODULE_SW_4. When one control signal MODULE_SW_1 controls tworelays, a current amount of the control signal MODULE_SW_1 may bereduced.

The charging unit 123 a includes at least one capacitor and is chargedwith the cell voltage transmitted from the leakproof relay 122 a.

The transmitting unit 124 a is turned on based on the two controlsignals MODULE+_V and MODULE−_V transmitted from the control signalgenerator 110 and outputs the cell voltage stored in the charging unit123 a to the buffer 125 a. That is, the transmitting unit 124 a isturned on and transmits a cell voltage to the buffer 125 a when both thecontrol signals MODULE+_V and MODULE−_V are given as a high level.

The buffer 125 a clamps the cell voltage output from the transmittingunit 124 a in the range of a predetermined voltage and outputs theclamped voltage to the first input terminal of the A/D converter 160.

Meanwhile, each structure and operation of the charging relays 121 b to121 h, the leakproof relays 122 b to 122 h, the charging units 123 b to123 h, the transmitting units 124 b to 124 h, and the buffers 125 b to125 h is respectively the same as that of the charging relay 121 a, theleakproof relay 122 a, the charging unit 123 a, the transmitting unit124 a, and the buffer 125 a. Accordingly, each structure and operationthereof will be not described.

An operation of the cell voltage measurer 120 will be described withreference to the timing diagram of FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a timing diagram of a waveform of a control signal input froma control signal generator to a cell voltage measurer according to afirst embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 briefly illustrates the time T2 shorter than the actual lengthalthough a time T2 must be illustrated longer than a time T1 because thetime T2 corresponds to about 20 times the time T1.

First, during the time T1, the control signals BANK1_SENSE andMODULE_SW_1 are given as the high level and the control signalsBANK2_SENSE to BANK5_SENSE, MODULE+_V and MODULE−_V are given as the lowlevel. Accordingly, the cell relay 121 a_1 of the charging relay 121 ais turned on by the high level of the control signal BANK1_SENSE, andthe leakproof relays 122 a are turned on by the high level of thecontrol signal MODULE_SW_1. The cell relays 121 a_2 to 121 a_5 areturned off by the low level of the control signals BANK2_SENSE toBANK5_SENSE. The transmitting unit 124 a is turned off since both thecontrol signals MODULE+_V and MODULE−_V are given as the low level.Accordingly, a voltage of the cell 211 is stored in the charging unit123 a through the charging relay 121 a and the leakproof relay 122 a.

Likewise, the cell relays 121 b_1, 121 c_1, 121 d_1, 121 e_1, 121 f_1,121 g_1, and 121 h_1 and the leakproof relays 122 b, 122 c, 122 d, 122e, 122 f, 122 g, and 122 h are turned on so that the voltages of thecells 221, 231, 241, 251, 261, 271, and 281 are respectively stored inthe charging units 123 b, 123 c, 123 d, 123 e, 123 f, 123 g, and 123 h.

Next, during the time T2, the control signals BANK1_SENSE to BANK5_SENSEand MODULE_SW_1 are given as the low level. Accordingly, the cell relay121 a_1 and the leakproof relay 122 a are turned off. During a time Tonamong the time T2, in which both the control signals MODULE+_V andMODULE−V are given as the high level, the transmitting unit 124 a isturned on by the high level of the control signal MODULE so that thevoltage of the cell 211 stored in the charging unit 123 a is transmittedthrough the buffer 125 a to a first input terminal of the A/D converter160.

Likewise, during the time Ton, the voltages of the cells 221, 231, 241,251, 261, 271, and 281 respectively stored in the charging units 123 b,123 c, 123 d, 123 e, 123 f, 123 g, and 123 h are transmitted by thetransmitting units 124 b, 124 c, 124 d, 124 e, 124 f, 124 g, and 124 hthrough the buffers 125 b, 125 c, 125 d, 125 e, 125 f, 125 g, and 125 hto the second to eighth input terminals of the A/D converter 160. Inaddition, the ninth and tenth input terminals of the A/D converter 160receive the outputs of the pack voltage measurer 130 and the packcurrent measurer 140.

The A/D converter 160 sequentially reads the first input terminal, thesecond input terminal, the ninth input terminal, the tenth inputterminal, the third input terminal, the fourth input terminal, the ninthinput terminal, the tenth input terminal, the fifth input terminal, thesixth input terminal, the ninth input terminal, the tenth inputterminal, the seventh input terminal, the eighth input terminal, theninth input terminal, and the tenth input terminal (a total of 16 times)and changes the read data into digital data during the time Ton. As aresult, the cell voltages of the first battery cells respectivelyincluded in the eight sub-packs 210 to 280 during the times T1 and T2may be measured.

Meanwhile, in the same manner as in the times T1 and T2, each cellvoltage of each of the second battery cells 212 to 282, third batterycells 213 to 283, fourth battery cells 214 to 284, and fifth batterycells 215 to 285 included in the eight sub-packs 210 to 280 may bemeasured during the times T3 and T4, times T5 and T6, times T7 and T8,and times T9 and T10.

The A/D converter 160 outputs the cell voltages of the 40 cells measuredin this manner to the MCU 20 (see FIG. 1). As such, the cell voltages ofthe battery 2 may be exactly and finely measured.

A control signal generator according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention will be described with reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 7.

FIG. 5 illustrates in detail a control signal generator according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a timing diagram ofa control signal changed by a transistor of FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is atiming diagram showing an operation of a NOR gate of FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 5, the control signal generator 110 includes fiveresistors 111 a to 111 e, five resistors 112 a to 112 e, two resistors113 and 114, five transistors 115 a to 115 e, a buffer 116, and a NORgate 117.

The five resistors 111 a to 111 e are for respectively stabilizingvoltage amplitude of the five control signals BANK1_SENSE to BANK5_SENSEinput from the MCU 20.

The five resistors 112 a to 112 e are for respectively stabilizingcurrent amplitude of the five control signals BANK1_SENSE to BANK5_SENSEinput from the MCU 20.

The two resistors 113 and 114 transmit the voltages of the controlsignals MODULE+_V and MODULE−_V input from the MCU 20 to a baseelectrode B of the five transistors 115 a to 115 e.

The transistor 115 a is turned on when the base electrode B thereof isapplied with a predetermined current through the resistors 113 and 114during the times T2, T4, T6, T8, and T10 during which at least one ofthe control signals MODULE+_V and MODULE−_V is given as the high level.Accordingly, the control signal BANK1_SENSE is forcibly given as the lowlevel because the current flows from a collector C to an emitter E. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 6, when the error and the delay of the signaltransmission are generated at the MCU 20 (see FIG. 1) of the BMS 1, thecontrol signal BANK1_SENSE is changed into the signal BANK1_SENSE_errand the changed signal is transmitted to the control signal generator110, the high level of the signal BANK1_SENSE_err is forcibly correctedto the low level of the signal BANK1_SENSE_col during a time Terr1 ofthe time T2. As a result, the time Ton during which the transmittingunit 124 a is turned on by the high level of the control signalsMODULE+_V and MODULE−_V is not overlapped with the time during which thecharging relay 121 a_1 is turned on by the high level of the signalBANK1_SENSE_col.

The transistor 115 b is turned on when the predetermined voltage isapplied to the base electrode B thereof through the resistors 113 and114 during the times T2, T4, T6, T8, and T10 during which at least oneof the control signals MODULE+_V and MODULE−_V is given as the highlevel. Accordingly, the control signal BANK2_SENSE is forcibly given asthe low level because the current is flown from the collector C to theemitter E. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the error and the delayof the signal transmission are generated at the MCU 20 (see FIG. 1) ofthe BMS 1, the control signal BANK2_SENSE is changed into the signalBANK2_SENSE_err and the changed signal is transmitted to the controlsignal generator 110, the high level of the signal BANK2_SENSE_err isforcibly corrected to the low level of the signal BANK2_SENSE_col duringtimes Terr2 and Terr3 of the times T2 and T4. As a result, the time Tonduring which the transmitting unit 124 a is turned on by the high levelof the control signals MODULE+_V and MODULE−_V is not overlapped withthe time during which the charging relay 121 a_2 is turned on by thehigh level of the signal BANK2_SENSE_col.

Likewise, the transistors 115 c to 115 e are turned on during the timesT2, T4, T6, T8, and T10, and accordingly, the respective control signalsBANK3_SENSE to BANK5_SENSE are forcibly given as the low level.

The buffer 116 receives the control signals BANK1_SENSE to BANK5_SENSErespectively amended by the transistors 115 a to 115 e, performsbuffering thereof, and outputs the buffered control signals to thecharging relays 121 a to 121 h, and also receives the control signalsMODULE+_V and MODULE−_V, performs buffering thereof, and outputs thebuffered control signals to the transmitting units 124 a to 124 h.

The NOR gate 117 receives the control signals MODULE+_V and MODULE−_V,generates the 4 control signals MODULE_SW_1 to MODULE_SW_4, and outputsthe same 4 control signals MODULE_SW_1 to MODULE_SW_4 to the leakproofrelays 123 a to 123 h. As shown in FIG. 7, the NOR gate 117 outputs the4 control signals MODULE_SW_1 to MODULE_SW_4 to be high level when boththe control signals MODULE+_V and MODULE−_V are given as the low level.

As such, the control signal generator according to the first embodimentof the present invention prevents all the control signals MODULE+_V,MODULE−_V and BANK1_SENSE to BANK5_SENSE from simultaneously being highlevel by turning off the five transistors by forcibly changing thecontrol signals BANK1_SENSE to BANK5_SENSE to be off (low level) when atleast one of the control signals MODULE+_V and MODULE−_V is given as on(high level). Since the charging relays 121 a to 121 h and thetransmitting units 124 a to 124 h are not simultaneously turned on, thecell voltages may be more exactly and reliably measured.

In addition, the control signal generator according to the firstembodiment of the present invention prevents the leakproof relays 122 ato 122 h and the transmitting units 124 a to 124 h from beingsimultaneously turned on by generating the four control signalsMODULE_SW_1 to MODULE_SW_4 to be turned on when both the control signalsMODULE+_V and MODULE−_V are off by using the NOR gate. Accordingly, thecell voltages may be reliably measured.

A BMS according to a second embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to FIG. 8 to FIG. 10.

The BMS according to the second embodiment has the same structure andoperation as the cell voltage measurer 120 according to the firstembodiment except that the cell voltage measurer is turned on when thecharging relay, leakproof relay, and transmitting unit are given as thelow level.

FIG. 8 is a timing diagram of a waveform of control signals input from acontrol signal generator to a cell voltage measurer according to asecond embodiment of the present invention.

The control signal generator 110 receives the five control signalsBANK1_SENSE to BANK5_SENSE and the two control signals MODULE+_V andMODULE−_V, that is, a total of 7 control signals from the MCU 20, andoutputs control signals /BANK1_SENSE to /BANK5_SENSE, /MODULE+_V and/MODULE−_V, and /MODULE_SW_1 to /MODULE_SW_4 to the cell voltagemeasurer 120.

The control signals /BANK1_SENSE to /BANK5_SENSE, /MODULE+_V and/MODULE−_V and /MODULE_SW_1 to /MODULE_SW_4 respectively have an inversephase of the control signals BANK1_SENSE to BANK5_SENSE, MODULE+_V andMODULE−_V, and MODULE_SW_1 to MODULE_SW_4 shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 illustrates in detail a control signal generator according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 10 is a timingdiagram showing an operation of a NAND gate of FIG. 9.

The control signal generator 210 according to the second embodiment isdifferent from the control signal generator 110 according to the firstembodiment in that the control signal generator 210 includes an inverter216 and a NAND gate 217.

The five resistors 211 a to 211 e, the five resistors 212 a to 212 e,the two resistors 213 and 214, and the five transistors 215 a to 215 eshown in FIG. 9 have the same structures and functions as the fiveresistors 111 a to 111 e, the five resistors 112 a to 112 e, the tworesistors 113 and 114, and the five transistors 115 a to 115 e shown inFIG. 5, and accordingly, are not described in further detail.

The inverter 216 receives the control signals BANK1_SENSE to BANK5_SENSErespectively corrected by the transistors 215 a to 215 e and outputsinverted control signals /BANK1_SENSE to /BANK5_SENSE to the chargingrelays 121 a to 121 h, and also receives the control signals MODULE+_Vand MODULE−_V and outputs inverted control signals /MODULE+_V and/MODULE−_V to the transmitting units 124 a to 124 h.

The NAND gate 217 receives the control signals /MODULE+_V and/MODULE−_V, generates the 4 control signals /MODULE_SW_1 to/MODULE_SW_4, and outputs the generated control signals /MODULE_SW_1 to/MODULE_SW_4 to the leakproof relays 122 a to 122 h. As shown in FIG.10, the NAND gate 217 outputs the 4 control signals /MODULE_SW_1 to/MODULE_SW_4 to be the low level when the control signals /MODULE+_V and/MODULE−_V are given as the high level.

According to the second embodiment of the present invention, the controlsignals /BANK1_SENSE to /BANK5_SENSE and the control signals /MODULE+_Vand /MODULE−_V may not be simultaneously given as the low level, and thecontrol signals /MODULE+_V and /MODULE−_V and the control signals/MODULE_SW_1 to /MODULE_SW_4 may not be simultaneously given as the lowlevel. The charging relays 121 a to 121 h and the transmitting units 124a to 124 h may not be simultaneously turned on and the leakproof relays122 a to 122 h and the transmitting units 124 a to 124 h may not besimultaneously turned on. Accordingly, the cell voltages may be reliablymeasured.

While this invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be practical embodiments, it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, onthe contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalentarrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the simultaneousturn-on of the charging relays and the transmitting units transmittingthe stored cell voltages of the charging units to the A/D converter maybe effectively prevented. Thus, the cell voltages may be more reliablymeasured, and errors of the BMS generated by the simultaneous turn-on ofthe charging relays and transmitting units may be effectively prevented.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, thesimultaneous turn-on of the leakproof relays, transmitting the cellvoltages to the charging units through the charging relays, and of thetransmitting units, transmitting the stored cell voltages of thecharging units to the A/D converter may be effectively prevented. Thus,the cell voltages may be more reliably measured, and errors of the BMSgenerated by the simultaneous turn-on of the leakproof relays and thetransmitting units may be effectively prevented.

Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatchanges may be made in this embodiment without departing from theprinciples and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined inthe claims and their equivalents.

1. A battery management system coupled to a battery formed with a packhaving a plurality of battery cells including first and second batterycells, the battery management system comprising: a control signalgenerator outputting a first control signal, and second, third, andfourth control signals having a first level at different timing from thefirst control signal; first and second relays respectively transmittingcell voltages of the first and second battery cells by being turned onin response to the first level of the first and second control signals;a third relay transmitting the cell voltage transmitted through one ofthe first and second relays in response to the third control signal withthe first level; a charging unit storing the cell voltage transmittedfrom the third relay; a fourth relay transmitting the stored cellvoltage of the charging unit in response to the first level of thefourth control signal; and an A/D converter converting the cell voltagetransmitted through the fourth relay into digital data, wherein thecontrol signal generator makes the first and second control signals tobe a second level excluding the first level when the fourth controlsignal is the first level and makes the third control signal to be thesecond level.
 2. The battery management system of claim 1, wherein thecontrol signal generator comprises: a common electrode having apotential of the second level; a first transistor including a firstelectrode applied with the first control signal, a second electrodecoupled to the common electrode, and a first control electrode appliedwith the fourth control signal, and electrically connecting the firstand second electrodes by being turned on when the fourth control signalis the first level; and a second transistor including a third electrodeapplied with the second control signal, a fourth electrode coupled tothe common electrode, and a second control electrode applied with thefourth control signal, and electrically connecting the third and fourthelectrodes by being turned on when the fourth control signal is thefirst level.
 3. The battery management system of claim 2, wherein thefirst control signal is input through a predetermined resistor to thefirst electrode and the second control signal is input through apredetermined resistor to the second electrode.
 4. The batterymanagement system of claim 2, wherein the fourth control signal is inputthrough a predetermined resistor to the first electrode and the fourthcontrol signal is input through a predetermined resistor to the secondelectrode.
 5. A battery management system including a plurality ofbattery cells, the system comprising: a main control unit controllingthe operation of the battery cells; a control signal generator connectedto the main control unit and transmitting a plurality of controlsignals; a cell voltage measurer measuring analog voltages of thebattery cells based on the control signals transmitted from the controlsignal generator and outputting analog voltage values of the batterycells; and an analog/digital converter converting the analog voltagevalues received from the cell voltage measurer into digital data andoutputting the digital data to the main control unit, wherein the maincontrol unit prevents a simultaneous transmission of stored cellvoltages of the battery cells to the analog/digital converter based onthe digital data received from the analog/digital converter.